Window ventilator



United States Patent 660,510 10/1900 Heptinstall Inventor Irvin C. Willert 10050 Main St., Clarence, New York 14031 Appl. No. 768,415

Filed Oct. 17, 1968 Patented Aug. 11, 1970 WINDOW VENTILATOR 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 98/99.1 Int. Cl E06b 7/02 Field of Search 98/94, 99,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,116,226 11/1914 Bohem 98/991 1,200,302 10/1916 Bohem 98/991 1,492,307 4/1924 Nelson 98/99.]

Primary Examiner Meyer Perlin Attorney Sommer, Weber and Gastel Patented Aug. 11, 1970 INVEN OR. Irvin C. Willert ATTOBNEYS WINDOW VENTILATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to improvements in ventilators and more particularly to a new and improved window ventilator.

Description of prior art While a variety of window ventilators have been employed for a number of years, they have one or more of the following limitations. Some adequately protect against entry of the elements carried by the air currents, but so restrict the flow of air as to detract from their ventilating purpose, such as by permitting entry of air only from a single direction and/or by causing the entering air to follow circuitous paths. Some provide adequate ventilation but inadequate protection against the elements, and some are not adjustable for controlling the amount of. ventilation.

.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved window ventilator which not only provides adequate ventilation and protection against entry of the elements but also is adjustable for controlling the amount of ventilation. To this end, the inventive window ventilator includes inner panel means adapted to be arranged in a window frame between a window sash and one end of the frame, outer hood means adapted to extend outside the frame from the outer side of the panel means and being open at the bottom to permit entry of rising air currents, baffle means connecting the hood means and panel means intermediate their ends and dividing the hood means into entrance chambers,

. passage means forming a through opening in the panel means on each side of the baffle means within the hood means in communication with the corresponding entrance chamber, and closure means arranged on the panel means for selectively covering and uncovering each opening to control the flow of air through each corresponding entrance chamber and open mg.

Other objects are to provide such new and improved window ventilator which is so constructed and designed as to: (1) permit entry of lateral air currents as well as rising air currents; (2) provide for runoff of the elements; (3) intercept elements carried by the air currents, and (4) prevent the rising and lateral air currents entering one chamber from entering another chamber.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become evident upon consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a fragmentary front or exterior elevational view of a window ventilator constituting a preferred embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary rear or interior elevational view thereof, with the sliding doors open to uncover both screened openings.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and showing the inner panel ofthe ventilator arranged within a window frame illustrated in broken lines, with the outer hood extending outside thereof.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. I and illustrating the transverse baffle member connecting the inner panel and outer hood intermediate their ends.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the various elements of the ventilator.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, and particularly FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of the inventive window ventilator is generally indicated at 10. The various components of ventilator may be made of any suitable metallic or plastic sheet LII material which, being exposed to the elements, is corrosion resistant, the preferred material being aluminum.

As best seen in FIG. 5, ventilator 10 includes an inner and horizontally elongated, rectangular panel 12 provided intermediate its ends with two horizontally spaced and elongated through openings or slots 14 for the passage of ventilating air. On its outer side, panel 10 is provided with an elongated rectangular sheet of screening 16 which is arranged over both openings with its upper edges substantially flush with the top edge of panel 12, as shown in FIG. 3. Central transverse baffle member 18 is secured over screening 16 and includes a vertically elongated flange portion 20 arranged between openings 14, an upright transverse wall portion 22 extending outwardly from flange portion 20 and provided with three oppositely extending flange portions 24, 26 and 28. Upper flange portion 24 is inclined downwardly and outwardly from flange portion 22 to vertical flange portion 26 which extends downwardly to horizontal flange portion 28, all for supporting a horizontally elongated hood 30 which is open at the bottom and both ends for entry of both rising and lateral air currents. Hood 30 is arranged over and connected by baffle member 18 with the outer side of panel 12 and includes an inner top vertical flange portion 32 extending along the, upper marginal edge portions of flange portion 20, screening 16 and panel 12, with the upper edges of these elements being substantially flush, as shown in FIG. 3. An upper flange portion 34 extends outwardly from flange portion 32 and fits over baffle flange portion 24, slanting at the same downward and outward inclination. Flange portion 34 is connected by an outer vertical flange portion 36 fitting over vertical baffle flange portion 26 to a lower horizontal reentrant flange portion 38 fitting beneath horizontal baffle flange portion 28. Thus, even though hood 30 is substantially shorter in length than panel 12, it is of sufficient length that openings 14 are located within the hood and protected thereby.

On its inner side, panel 12 is provided with a vertically spaced pair of horizontally elongated upper and lower tracks 40 of generally Z-shaped cross section. The oppositely extending flange portions of tracks 40 are secured in any suitable manner (not shown) to the inner side of panel 12 above and below openings 14, with the offset and opposed flange portions being spaced inwardly from the panel to receive a pair of doors 42. These doors are arranged to slide horizontally along tracks 40, which extend sufficiently beyond the outer end of each opening to permit the doors to completely cover or uncover each opening. Each door 42 is provided with a lateral handle or finger piece 44 for ease of manipulation.

In assembling hood 30, baffle member 18 and screening 16 on the outer side of panel 12, as best seen in FIGS. 1-3, these elements are secured in place by any suitable means such as screws 46, 48 and 50. The three upper screws 46 pass through the central and end portions of hood flange portion 32, with the end screws 46 entering panel 12, while central screw 46 also passes through baffle flange portion 20 and screening 16 into the panel. The intermediate screw 48 passes through hood flange portion 36 and into baffle flange portion 46, while lower screw 50 passes through baffle flange portion 20 intopanel 12. In addition, the opposite end and lower marginal edge portions of screening 16 also aresecu'red in place against the outer side of panel 12 by any suitable means (not shown).

In utilizing the inventive ventilator, panel 12, screening 16 andthe adjacent baffle flange portion 20 and top hood portion 32 are arranged in a window frame generally indicated at 52 between window sash 54 and the lower end or channel 56 of the frame, with the opposite ends of the panel fitting within the side channels 58 (only one being shown) of the frame. The

at the bottom for entry of rising air currents indicated by the arrows A, and also being open at both ends for entry of lateral air currents indicated by the arrows B (FIG. 1). Thus, adequate ventilation is provided year round, and especially in warmer weather.

However, as best seen in FIG. 3, transverse wall portion 22 of baffle member 18 effectively closes hood 30 intermediate its open ends to divide the hood into two separate entrance chambers. Hence both the rising and lateral air currents entering each chamber are prevented from entering the other chamber. In addition, transverse baffle wall portion 22 acts to intercept elements such as rain and snow carried by the lateral air currents so that such elements will fall downwardly down through the opening in the bottom of hood 30.

The inclined upper flange portion 34 of hood 30 and vertical flange portion 36 thereof provide for runoff of the elements, especially in a heavy rain or snow storm. Lower reentrant hood flange portion 38, which extends inwardly toward the outer side of panel 12 about one-half the width of the hood, acts to intercept elements carried by the rising air currents, while still permitting entry of the desired ventilating air. This action of reentrant flange portion 38 is particularly beneficial during snow storms with swirling rising air currents, to intercept upwardly blowing snow in the winter months.

The screening 16 over openings 14 acts to prevent entry of insects and dust particles carried by the entering air currents, with such particles being free to fall to the ground through the open space between reentrant hood flange portion 38 and window frame 52. This space also provides access for cleaning off such screening 16 and the upper surface of reentrant flange 58, as well as both sides oftransverse baffle wall portion 22, for ease ofmaintenance.

Of course, doors 42 may be selectively operated to completely or partially cover or uncover each opening 14 for complete control of air flowing through each chamber of hood 30 and corresponding opening 14. This dual door construction is useful not only in warmer weather to permit maximum ventilation, by completely uncovering each opening 14 to permit entry of both lateral and rising air currents through each chamber and opening, but also in inclement weather to control ventilation by completely covering one or both openings 14. For example, should the predominant wind direction be from the right hand end of baffle 30 in inclement weather, such as a rain storm or snow storm, the right hand door 42 can be completely closed to prevent any entry of air or elements carried thereby through right hand opening 14, while the left hand opening may be partially or completely uncovered to permit adequate ventilation without entry of the elements.

It now is evident how the invention accomplishes its various objects, and the numerous advantages of the invention likewise are apparent. While the invention has been described and illustrated herein by reference to a single preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the invention by those skilled in the art without departing from the inventive concept, the scope of which is to be determined by the appended claims.

lclaim:

l. A window ventilator comprising inner panel means adapted to be arranged in a window frame between a window sash and one end of the frame, outer hood means adapted to extend outside the frame from the outer side of said panel means and being open not only at the bottom to permit entry of rising air currents, but also at each end to permit entry of lateral air currents, said hood means including an upper flange portion inclined downwardly and outwardly from the outer side of said panel means for runoff of the elements and a lower reentrant flange portion extending inwardly toward said panel means to intercept elements carried by the rising air currents; baffle means connecting said hood means and panel means intermediate their ends and including transverse wall means closing said hood means intermediate its ends to divide said hood means into entrance chambers and to prevent the air currents entering one of said chambers from entering another of said chambers ad acent said one chamber; passage means forming through openings in said panel means on opposite sides of said transverse wall means within said hood means in communication with the corresponding ones of said entrance chambers, and closure means arranged on said panel means for selectively covering and uncovering the corresponding ones of said openings to control the flow of air through the corresponding ones of said entrance chambers and openings.

2. The ventilator of Claim 1 wherein said passage means include screening arranged over said openings on the outer side of said panel means, and said closure means include spaced tracks arranged along said openings on the inner side of said panel means and doors slidable along said tracks for selectively covering and uncovering said openings. 

